POMPEY HAVE GEM IN CLARKE
DEFENDER, matchwinner and seemingly experienced beyond his years – Matt Clarke is destined for a bright future according to Portsmouth assistant manager Joe Gallen.
The Suffolk-born centrehalf headed in just past the hour mark to give Pompey their third league win in a row and move them level on points and goal difference with Charlton in the fourth and final League One play-off place
And the composure and versatility of Clarke has not gone unnoticed by the management team.
Gallen said: “When I first came here, I thought he looked an experienced player possibly in his 30s.
“But he’s only 21 and what is unusual for a centre-half, he is a natural player.
“Not only can he win headers at the back and stop players from scoring, he can also move and play in midfield.
“He’s comfortable on the ball and can rush out and do mazy dribbles up field.
“That’s not normal but he is very good and could have a very good future ahead of him.”
Taking part in one swift counter-attack, Clarke might have earned Portsmouth a firsthalf lead but his low shot was blocked by a Bury defender.
But there was no chance of a repeat of that in the 62nd minute when he arrived unmarked at the far post to meet Gareth Evans’ corner and in Gallen’s words ‘scored with a bullet header.’
Portsmouth did not create many chances but at the same time never looked like conceding against a Bury team anchored at the foot of the table.
In the tenth minute the visitors did have an early chance but Nicky Ajose’s low shot from just inside the area was comfortably saved by Luke McGee.
The hosts responded with a chance of their own as Danny Rose tried his luck from 40 yards out but Leo Fasan was able to tip away with his fingertips.
Without their injured striker Jermaine Beckford, Bury lacked the penetration to stop Portsmouth recording their seventh win in eight games in all competitions.
Five of those wins have all shared the 1-0 scoreline and that might be because even against Bury, manager Kenny Jackett played only Brett Pitman in an out-andout striker’s role with Kyle Bennett totally ineffective in support.
Bury manager Chris Lucketti said: “They are a good team flying high at the moment so to restrict them to just a couple of chances was very good.
“We were very disappointed to concede a goal from a setpiece. To lose a game in that manner is always disappointing.
“I cannot fault my lads at all. We frustrated the fans here and we frustrated the Portsmouth team. But one lapse in concentration cost us in the end.” PORTSMOUTH (4-4-2): McGee 7, Thompson 6, Burgess 7, Clarke 8, Haunstrup 7, Evans 7, O’Keefe 5 (Close 45 6), Rose 7, Lowe 5, Bennett 4 (Chaplin 60 6), Pitman 6 Subs not used: Bass, Kennedy, Main, Donohue, Talbot. BURY: (4-3-1-2): Fasan 7, Edwards 7, O’Connell 7, Cameron 7, Leigh 5, Tutte 6 (Mayo 64 6), Reilly 6, Ince 7, O’Shea 6, Smith 6 (Maguire 69 6), Ajose 7 Subs not used: Moloney, Dawson, Williams, Aldred, Laurent